Pre-Convention Events

Below is a schedule of events planned prior to the 2017 Church of God Convention in Wichita, KS. The schedule is subject to change and will be updated as new information becomes available. All times listed are Central Daylight Time.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Jesus as the Subject of your Ministry9:00 am-1:00 pmMedia Room

Join the Gravity leadership team Ben Hardman, Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe as we spend the morning discussing how we place Jesus back in the center of our ministry. In many ways the American church has divorced the message of Jesus from the methods of Jesus. In this workshop we will look at the life of Jesus and discuss what it would look like for us to model our ministries after him. Are we doing the same things Jesus did? Are we leading the way Jesus lead? Are we discipling the way Jesus discipled? You won’t want to miss this session and the impact it could have on your church and community.

CARE Seminar
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Double Tree Hotel, Salon 4

CARE Initiative will roll out its second national training event. This six-hour seminar focuses on issues central to pastors and congregational board members in understanding, planning for, and managing pastoral compensation. Because of the strong response, it has been necessary to close general registration. Registration remains open for pastors 40 years and younger, their spouses, and one board member. For information and to register, contact Roz Hency RHency@chog.org or Joseph Cookston JCookston@chog.org CARE, Clergy Advocacy and Resource Effort of Church of God Ministries, Inc.

Healthy churches have healthy leaders. This conference will help leaders make sure they are caring for their inner life. So often it is easy to dismiss this critical part of ourselves. Dr. Smith comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience helping leaders nurture and be the person God desires them to be. Please sign-up in advance when registering for convention. For more information contact Tamera Wilkinson, twilkinson@chog.org.

Dr. James Bryan Smith (M.Div., Yale University Divinity School; DMin Fuller Seminary) is the Executive Director of the Apprentice Institute. Dr. Smith is currently a theology professor at Friends University, in Wichita, Kansas. A founding member of Richard J. Foster’s spiritual renewal ministry, Renovare’, Smith is an ordained minister and has served in various capacities in local churches. He is the author of eight books, most notably The Apprentice Series (InterVarsity Press), which continue to shape the work of the Apprentice Institute. Dr. Smith’s other titles include Devotional Classics (with Richard J. Foster), Embracing the Love of God, Room of Marvels, and Hidden in Christ.

In 2016, three CHOG Tables convened to wrestle with three challenges looming large in the public square: Sexual Ethics,Immigration and Refugees, andRace, Reconciliation, and Relationships. How do we, as the Church of God, respond to these developing stories in the world around us? How would Jesus respond? Hundreds of people, from coast-to-coast joined the three Tables (one in the Portland metro at Vancouver, another in Anderson, and the last in Philadelphia) to hear divergent views, to participate in the conversation, and to weigh outcomes by the lens of Scripture and the Spirit. Each Table included a Commission (comprised of seven-to-nine outstanding voices in the Movement) tasked with hearing the whole, exploring with research, and prayerfully developing resource papers that can help the Church of God navigate in these turbulent times. The conversations were wide and deep. In fact, the conversation has been so rich, that the Commissions are still receiving input and feedback. Thus, the deadline for the papers on each topic will be extended and this pre-convention session will invite you to come and help inform. On the pre-convention day, members of each Commission will be available for Q&A on the subjects and process. Ken Oldham chairs the Immigration and Refugee Commission, Lane Smothers chairs the Sexual Ethics Commission, Paul McCallister Chairs the Race, Reconciliation, and Relationships Commission.

Imagine a different world, where Jesus’ followers make disciples who make disciples. Dr. Ferguson brings together the life-changing truth of Relational Theology with proven, practical pastoral ministry to help church leaders not just grow in numbers, but grow disciples who make disciples. This training is a mix of relational principles of Jesus and intentional strategy combined. It could revolutionize your ministry. Please sign-up in advance when registering for convention. For more information contact Tamera Wilkinson, twilkinson@chog.org.